Freezer shelf-coil arrangement



Dec. 13, 1949 r n, R. CHAPMAN 2,490,995

FREEZER SHELF- COIL ARRANGEMENT [LIZ 9 INVENToR l 2o tls zo j RALPH CHAPMAN Lg 3 1w ATTORNEY -D-eC. 13, R CHAPMAN FREEZER SHELF-CO'IL ARRANGEMENT Y 2 SheetsjSheet 2 Filed May 5, 1947 A INVENTOR. RALPH CHAPMAN ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 13, 1949` UNITED i' "box, or the like.

' A'principal 'object 'of the Apresent /inventioii'is to "provide v`shelves having expansion tube coilsaf 'xedthereto' so" thatv the "entire foodisupporting arrangement'of ah'ouseho'ld refrigerator'orthe l 'like maybe maintained "at" approximatelyth same temperature.

A ufurther objectof the present i'r'iverrtorrl is `Yto 'provide a freezer ""unit including supporting shelves lintimately `adjoin'edito -the"`"expans'ion l tubes.

A furtherA object *of the presentA inventionisto provide a refrigerating system 'assemblyinllding a compressor;'condenser"and'eXpander which may befabricated'as an entirety and associated: with the household refrigerator or storage box I avoided. Another.advantageofthe foregoing is that anl entire. refrigeratingrsystem assemblyinay be substituted for one .which isin needof--i'epair,

thus facilitating repair and overhaul ofld'aia'ged or worn out units.

The objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from inspection of the accompanying drawings taken in connection with the following specification wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a refrigerating unit manufactured in accordance with the present invention and shown in use in a modern household refrigerator;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially along line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a shelf and coil arrangement separated from the refrigerator box;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig, 6 is a vertical section taken substantially along line 6 6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view in perspective of a portion of a shelf and the coil assembled thereon; and

refrigerant whichis'compress'edand"condensed in 'the'4 condensingunitilowst Aan Vexpansion coil arrangedin'thefood compartmentthrough aisee- -fL expansion of the" refrigerant for then particular 1 system: v-liIx-panded"refrigerant comesbackfto'A the condensing unit-through a'suc'tion-t'ube'l 1. V:Other ff l 'siiitableleformseofVJ refrigerating systememayibe substituted- -for that herein illu'strated; sch'as a system--inlvvliiclr the capillary tubev isrpla'cedby a thermostatically controlled expansioniivalve.

My Apresent;invention contemplatesy connection '.1 f off the expaiisionwcoil :tori-the :condensing .unitfsby 301 meansf-of afli'quidl'or dischargefl-inelizand algas or suction line I'I, both of which pass through a removable section of a wall of the food compartment so that the entire assembly may be inserted or removed as a unit. This removable section preferably comprises a short section of insulating material I8 adapted to surround the suction pipe I'I, and having a slot therein embracing the discharge tube I6 so as to insulate one from the other and close the gap in the wall of the refrigerating unit. A square pad of foam rubber or the like is suitable for the purpose inasmuch as it will deform and completely ll the recess in the wall of the food compartment through which the tubes pass. In order that it may be removably associated with the wall, the `pad is wrapped about the tubes and held in position by a removable plate I9 bridging the recess in the wall and held in place by screws or the like.

The evaporator shelf assembly comprises a lower shelf 2l, intermediate shelves 22 and an upper shelf 23, all of the shelves having peripheral flanges depending therefrom. The forward edges of the shelves are joined together by posts 24 welded or bolted thereto, and the rear corners 3 of the shelves are joined together by channel member 25. As seen in Fig. 5, the capillary tube i6 is preferably inserted into and fixed to the end of a tube 30 of substantially the same diameter as the tube Il'. Referring to Fig. 8, it may .be seen that the tube 30 may rise to a point adjacent the upper shelf 23 and pass inwardly through the flange thereof, and join a serpentine coil 3| arranged beneath the shelf. The tube thereafter passes outwardly and down :behind the leftl channel member 25 as indicated at 32. The tube 32 passes inwardly through the flange of the lower shelf 2| and joins a serpentine coil 33, then outwardly to rise to a point `adjacent the second shelf 22, the riser being indicated by the numeral 34. The tube here passes inwardly beneath the second shelf 22 and is joined to a'serpentine coil 35 followed by a riser 36 behindfthefright chanf nel member 25. From there is passes .beneath the upper intermediate shelf 22 to join a serpentine coil 31 from which a short section extends into the lower end of an accumulator 38 also mounted behind the right channel member. 25; The upper Aend of the accumulator opens intothe upper end Vof the tube l'l which returns tothe condensing unit.

As seen more clearly, in Figs. `6 and 7, prefer to anix the serpentine coils to the lower surface of the shelves as ,by means of inverted channel members 48 having longitudinally extending anges 4l, which maybe welded lor soldered to the tubes and to the lower surfaces of the shelves l in order to have firm contact and good heat V. transference, as Well as to eliminate rattling or humming otherwise transmitted through the tubes from the condensing unit. i.

The tubes are protected from damage by the Y ilanges of the shelves and the `members 25, and a Awithin the scope of the appended claimsV are 'l fconsidered to be a part of my invention.

\ I claim:

1. A shelf assembly for insertion in a refriger- 'ator box having a rectangular food compartment f comprising a plurality of upright channel mem- 50. 2,399,967

,bers and horizontal shelves affixed thereto, said members being angularly disposed with respect to the edges of said shelves at the rear corners thereof whereby, when said shelf assembly is slipped into position in said rectangular compartment, the walls of said compartment and said upright members deline enclosed, hollow spaces for the reception and concealment of refrigerant-carrying tubes.

-v 2. A refrigerator cabinet comprising a rectangular food compartment, and a shelf assembly positioned in said compartment, said shelf assembly comprising a plurality of upright members, a plurality of shelves supported by said members, a plurality of refrigeration coils indi- Vidually mounted on said shelves, and vertical tube sections connecting said coils, certain of said upright members comprising plates positioned angularly with respect to the side and rear edges of said shelves whereby said plates form enclosed, hollow spaces at the rear, vertical corners ofsaid s .tions being positioned in said spaces.

3. A refrigeration system for a household refrigerator having a rectangular food storage compartment comprising a condensing unit and an evaporator unit, said units being joined together in refrigerant-flow relationship, said evaporator unit comprising a shelf assembly adapted to be slipped into said food storage oompartment, said assembly comprising a plurality of horizontal shelves and a plurality of uprights .axed thereto, certain of said uprights comprising angularlydisposed rear corner posts adapted to form with the upright walls of said food storage compartment enclosed, hollow spaces Ythrough which portions of the evaporator unit may pass vertically from shelf to shelf.

RALPH CHAPMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,921,576 Mully Aug. 8, 1933 2,007,701 Apple July 9, 1935 2,399,963 Vinton May 7, 1946 West May 7, 1946 

